Waking up to the sound of pots, pans and spoons falling on the floor had me smiling.
Sighs. Nothing like the good old morning with the sound of pots and pans banging.
Hahaha, banging pots and pans. Where my mind goes to is weird.
I heard small footsteps making their way towards my room and I smile just as an idea popped into my head. I quickly made my way over to the back of my door and wait for them to show up into my room.
"Shhhhhh, Maddy we don't wanna wake Thee-Thee yet" I heard Nicky said. I chuckle at the nickname they have for me. They find it hard to pronounce my name fully so they sort my middle name but even then, they still couldn't pronounce it well so they came up with Thee-Thee from my middle name- Alethea.
I heard them creeping into my room opening my door wider to see me. As they creep towards my bed I sprung out from behind the door and carry them into my room and dropping them onto my bed as I tickle them.
"Yadra Vinaka, my little trouble- makers" I laughed out.
"Thee- Thee, you weren't supposed to know we were coming to scare you." Maddy laughed as I tickle her more.
"And you weren't supposed to be scaring people early this morning" I said to Nicky as I continue to tickle him.
"Ok ok I'm sorry, Thee-Thee, we both got hungry" Nicky said.
I laughed. "Ok ok, now come along let's get you some breakfast then."
I went to my bathroom and freshen up and they went to their rooms and get start to get ready.
I took a quick shower and get ready. I made my way to the kitchen and get started on breakfast.
I decided to make pancakes and as I go to the kitchen, I saw pancake mix all over the counter no doubt from their first attempt at making breakfast.
I quickly cleaned up the counter and whatever has the pancake mix on as I was finishing the last part of the counter at the edge, a pan fell on the tip of my toes, "Mata va maqe qase, fudge- knuckles!!" I screamed out loud as I try to maintain my balance.
I heard 2 small steps running into the kitchen, "Thee- Thee are you ok?" Maddy asks as Nicky came and started looking for injuries. Aren't they just the cutest!!!
"I'm ok. I'm fine" I reassured them and started working our breakfast, or what's left of it
I quickly flip the last pancake onto the plate and handing it over to Nicky. This little guy can eat.
"Thee- Thee, can we go get ice-cream after school today?" Nicky and Maddy asked with their best puppy dog eyes.
"I thought school was over yesterday?" I asked them, more like a statement rather than a question.
They look confused for a moment before their eyes lit up in happiness as they ran towards me and tackled me to a hug.
"Thee- Thee, we totally forgot that school was out for the fall" they said.
I laughed at them and their cuteness.
"In that case, can we go have ice-cream now?" Nicky asked me.
"After you've had your breakfast and finish your assignments that I've set out for you this morning then we can go. Understood?" I said sternly as they nodded their heads eagerly and they quickly finished their food to get started on their worksheets.
I love my siblings with everything in me, everything I do is for their benefit and I wouldn't have it any other way.
After my parents passed away in a plane crash 2 years ago, I made a promise to them that I would take care of Maddy, Nicky and James Jnr.
I was 21 when they passed and I soon graduated from college with a degree in Business Administration. James quickly dropped out of college and joined the military right after we had their memorial services. We write to him every day and he replies when he wants to or when he's not that busy. He doesn't share a lot of things from the military and we don't mind, as long as he is ok and well.
As soon as I graduated, I applied for a job as a personal secretary to my cousin's fiancé working in a huge company, more like my cousin forced me to apply to it without her husband knowing it's me but I got the job with no family favors and I'm glad there's no favor. It would make work seem unbearable for me.
I took my siblings in and have been looking after them for 2 years now. My brother James Jnr or JJ as we like to call him sends a few dollars over the last 2 years and I've put the money into Maddy's and Nicky's college funds, not that we don't need it, we are better off surviving on my salary and it's good to be ready and prepared for the future, I sometimes add a few dollars into their college funds.
I just hope that what I am doing is enough for the both of them. I tell them stories about mom and dad whenever I can and they always ask questions on why they're not here and I try to answer it as best as I can.
I quickly got out of my thinking as I felt small hands grab onto both of my hands from each side as they drag me towards the door no doubt wanting to have ice- cream now.
I quickly stopped moving as I turned around and stare at them with my right eyebrow raised.
"Are you forgetting something?" I asked them as I folded my hands onto my chest.
"Oh man, I thought you forgot since you've been spacing out on us again." Smart Nicky said as he grumbled and went to his room and then to Maddy's room to get their worksheets for the day.
I know school is over, but I still let them do a bit learning here and there for them.
It is for their benefit and because the curriculum here is a little bit advanced hence the extra worksheets.
I just don't want them to struggle into the coming years like me and James did when we first got here.
We are from Fiji and we are not ashamed of it. It is just sometimes people think we can't do it due to the fact we are late in a lot of things and education is one of them.
We sometimes like to terrify a few people who are horrible to us that we were once cannibals and that we still have that in our blood and it only comes out if people are not being nice and trust me…. it's worth the look on their faces.
Me and James do that but I am so not encouraging Maddy and Nicky to do it mainly because they don't struggle like we did but if trouble shoots up regarding them then we're doing it, western style.
"Thee- Thee we're both done with our worksheets" Maddy excitedly skipped towards me with both of their worksheets in hand.
"Can we go now, Thee- Thee?" Nicky asked me as I laughed and took their papers.
"Ok ok we can go now, go and get me your shoes while I place your work on my office table" I said as I make my way towards my room only to stub my big toe on the side of my bed.
"Maqe qase levu, fudge-nuts" I yelled out in pain as I try to relieve its pain from my poor toe. That's strike 2 for today, before I officially claim this a bad day for me.
We all went to the park for a walk and yes, to get ice cream right after we did a few groceries shopping, went to the mall, came back from the movies and now we're going to get ice-cream and a walk around the park, as promised.
Maddy chose the strawberry flavor, Nicky chose rocky road and I had the devil double choc chip flavor.
We played tag for a while at the park after our ice cream, it was really fun.
"Ok, me sa rauta qo. We have to go back home, you guys" I said as it is starting to get dark.
"Ohh Thee- Thee, we just got here" Maddy whined.
"Yeah, like an hour ago and we have been playing for about 20 minutes and we better head back because you're gonna fall off soon, Maddy" Nicky rolled his eyes at Maddy as she pouts and started mimicking every word he says.
As we were on our way back, a frisbee came out of nowhere and hit me straight on the face.
"Thee- Thee!!!" Nicky shouted as he crouched down below to inspect the damage.
And that's the 3rd strike for today. Thank you ground for always being there for me, I can always count on you to catch me, every time there's a mishap moment.
"Kerekere, Turaga me sa rauta qo" I mumbled as I tried to get up but Maddy and Nicky were both on top of me making it hard for me to do so and inspect the damage. I looked over to find the owner of the frisbee and see a tall lean man making his way over to us with his Golden Retriever dog. They both make their way over and the dog started whimpering at the sight of me being injured by his toy.
"What in the he—" I got cut off by Nicky lounging himself at the buff guy coming over here.
"You hurt my sister!!" as he punches the guy on his chest.
"I am so sorry; I didn't know your sister was in the way. I swear from where I was standing your sister wasn't visible" the guy tried explaining to Nicky.
"Are you telling me my sister is so short that you couldn't see her" Nicky yelled as he kept throwing small punches towards him.
The guy quickly caught Nicky's small fist in his large hands as he stood up. He was about to say something but stopped as soon as he saw me.
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FIJIAN WORDS TRANSLATION:
Yadra Vinaka- good morning
Mata va maqe qase- face of an old wrinkling monkey
Maqe qase levu- big old monkey
Kerekere Turaga me sa rauta qo- please, Lord let this be the last one.
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Their names:
Adi Alesi Alethea Lutunavonu - 23 years old
Ratu Jemesa Jnr Davui Lutunavonu (Brother)- 1 year younger (22 years old)
Maria Madeline Lutunavonu (Sister)- 6 years old
Manulevu Nickolai Lutunavonu (Bother)- 6 years old
Ratu Jemesa Davui Lutunavonu (Dad)- 44 years old {DECEASED}
Adi Marama Amelia Lutunavonu (Mom)- 41 years old {DECEASED}